Rivalry Game of the Week: Alabama vs. Florida

October is the biggest month for SEC teams. This is the time where teams start beating each other up so two of them can earn the right to be in the SEC championship game in Atlanta.

Two teams that know about playing (and winning) the SEC tile are Alabama and Florida, who will square off at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on Saturday.

Both teams are 4-0 and both teams are ranked in the top 15 in both polls. Florida last won the national title in 2008 and the Crimson Tide won the title the following year.

If you want an NFL-type game on Saturday, this is it—when it come to talent, atmosphere and drama, very few teams can rival the Gators and the Crimson Tide.

Last Year

Just like this year, both teams headed into last year's game undefeated with a 4-0 record.

But Alabama was able to run past the Gators with a 31-6 victory. Tide running back Mark Ingram rushed for two touchdowns while C.J. Mosley returned a John Brantley interception for a 35-yard score.

Brantley was harassed by the Alabama defense all game long, forcing Brantley to throw two interceptions and not looking comfortable in the pocket at all.

Tide on Offense

When it comes to the Crimson Tide, they like to run the ball and run the ball often. They lost Ingram to the draft, but they have not lost a beat because Trent Richardson is just as good as the former Heisman winner.

Richardson has 487 yards and eight touchdowns through the first four games. He is looked at as one of the favorites to win the Heisman.

Quarterbacks A.J. McCarron and Phillips Sims have played in all four games, but McCarron will get the nod on Saturday. If the running game gets going early, McCarron will not have to do too much. All he will have to do is keep them on the field as much as possible.

Tide on Defense

Another thing the Crimson Tide in known for is defense, and they have been strong these first four games. The Tide has allowed opponents an average of 184 yards per game as well as eight points per game.

Linebacker Dont'a Hightower and safety Mark Barron are the two leaders of the unit and both have been playing at a high level. Hightower leads the team in tackles with 25 and Barron is right behind Hightower with 22.

Another player to watch for is linebacker Trey DePriest, who is the third leading tackler. DePriest won SEC Freshman of the Week honors for his performance against Kent State where he tallied 10 tackles.

Gators on Offense

Under new offensive coordinator Charlie Weis, the Gators have averaged over 40 points per game and 259 rushing yards per game.

The Gators have a lot of speed and it starts with Chris Rainey and Jeff Demps. Rainey leads the team in rushing and receiving yards, and Demps is right behind Rainey in both categories.

Another player to watch is Trey Burton, who can run, throw and catch, making him another dangerous threat for the Gators. Burton had 12 touchdowns last year and that puts him third on the school's all-time list for freshmen.

But the offense starts and ends with Brantley. He has played solid so far this season, but if the Gators want to take down the Crimson Tide, Brantley will have to make some big plays.

Gators on Defense

Since head coach Will Muschamp is a defensive-minded guy, you would figure the defense for the Gators would be pretty good, right?

Well, so far so good for the Gators as they allowed only nine points per game.

Linebackers Jon Bostic and Jelani Jenkins are the two top tacklers on the team and they both know how to get after the quarterback. Bostic has two sacks while Jenkins has one.

Safety Matt Elam is another player to watch for. Elam has notched 17 tackles and leads the team in interceptions with two.

Like the offense, the defense for the Gators is athletic and fast. That is something the Alabama offense has to watch for because it could provide problems for Richardson and Co.

Final Analysis

Alabama comes into the game as a touchdown favorite. Both teams have been playing great football, but the Crimson Tide have been looking strong since defeating Michigan State last year in the Capital One Bowl.

Florida has gotten off to a great start to the season thanks in large part to Muschamp. However, this will be the first real test for the Gators and the question is, can the defense stop Richardson and force McCarron to make plays with his arm? Also, can Brantley find a way to crack a very disciplined and aggressive Tide defense?

It's going to be one great contest in the Swap, and whoever comes out victorious will have a lot of momentum the rest of the season.